NCAA March Madness College Basketball - Final Four

[boatbuilder]

Jim,
    I remember Jennifer now!  With her ball handling she could have been a hit with the Globetrotters.

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Sounds like a pretty good deal.

I did mean the men's tourney -- not the women's with that bet. Would not want to bet against UConn women -- perhaps in the future as the KY program continues to grow. KY women were beaten by UNC already so wouldn't play UConn.

Actually, Jim, Las Vegas books now have KY the favorite. Also, I noticed the ESPN Experts had all six analyst that night projecting KY as the winner. This is not good -- as KY has been riding the underdog role all the way from the SEC to their current wins against OSU and UNC.

KY is favored by 2 over UConn and Butler is favored by 2 1/2 over VCU. KY is a 8 to 5 favorite to win it all, UConn at 11-5, Butler at 4-1 and VCU at 7-1. Those odds will change as we get closer to Saturday tip off, but for now it looks like our bet should be something like the winner of the KY/UConn game gets dinner at the QZ restaurant of their choice.

The books are sure crossing their fingers that VCU loses and goes home on Saturday because they will take it in the ear if VCU keeps winning. I read somewhere that the odds on VCU getting to the final four were something like 1371-1 on day one of the tourney. Those odds came down with each win, but the big better speculators will sure cash in if they win it all. 

Am scheduled to leave Qz on the 8th for Laughlin -- and if it weren't for gas prices would drive up just to see the games in a sports book -- probably the Riverside. The cross section of screaming humanity around a hot crap table or in a sports book at a major casino during the final four is for me, simply a great place to be.

 

[Ned]

Bob, don't worry about the bookies.  They get their 10% regardless of the outcome.  It's all math, no emotion on their part.

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Bob, don't worry about the bookies.  They get their 10% regardless of the outcome.  It's all math, no emotion on their part.

Thanks, Ned!! Actually, I'm not worried about bookies, "or" the book. 

They get their percentage -- that's of course true. However, they must balance the bets that go both ways, or they "do" lose money - and that could happen with VCU. The point spread right now has KY winning by 2. If most betters begin betting on KY vs. UConn, they will then make it 2 1/2 or 3 points -- and keep making the spread wider until more betters begin betting on UConn instead. The object for them is to wind up with the same amount of money bet both ways. They could care less who wins -- as long as there is close to the same monies bet on both teams. Then they pay off the same as they take in - minus their percentage (vig).

Their algorithm is telling them that today betting will be evenly distributed between the 4 teams - and if not, they will adjust the odds until they are.  But with VCU, they can't balance the betting because of those that bet when VCU was at 1000-1. So I'm suggesting that the books are crossing their fingers that VCU does not win.

Do you remember super overweight William Perry (The Frig) when Chicago played in the '85 Super bowl?  During the year if within a yard of the goal line, Ditka had a play were Perry would run the ball (I think he was a tackle otherwise) and crash through the line for a TD. Anyway, I was in Reno on that Super Bowl day. Everyone was talking about a 20-1 bet on Perry scoring a TD. I think it was started by the Sports Book at Caesar's. So, I bet $10 --  I'm a big better. 

I had to get back to SF so listened to the game while driving back. The goal line thing happened several times during the 1st half, but no Frig TD. Then about half way through the 2nd half, he "did" score from the 1 yard line -- and I won $200 minus the house percentage. In total, I read that Caesar's lost 1/4 million dollars (minus their percentage). Evidently, Caesar's claimed they heard Ditka say several times during the season that he would never run that play if they got to the SB.

 

[Ned]

It's all done with computers these days.  It's so impersonal compared to the old days where you actually talked to your bookie on the phone or in the bar.

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Bob, I thought you were coming to Goodyear to see the Reds. We've been at the ballpark 7 games and haven't seen you.

My brother was going to fly down but couldn't make it plus am having problems with my new 4g air card from Vz.  The other drawback is the expense. Gas has gone up to $369 here in QZ. Fortunately, I filled up in Parker on the way down at $3.42 and that tank will get me almost back to NCal.

Thanks for asking, Bernie. Hopefully next year . . . 

 

[Jim Dick]

UCONN Women beat Duke!!!!!!! Come on UCONN Men! ;D

 

[Bob Buchanan]

My 2 favorite teams are UK (of course) and any team that plays Duke.  I get almost as excited when Duke loses (which unfortunately isn't nearly often enough IMO) as when UK wins.  I'll never EVER forget that Chris Lightner incident and still cannot watch replays of that game. 

I know -- that's the most famous "buzzer beater" video around. Unfortunately, they don't show Laetner purposely stomping a KY player down on the deck. It was shown in replays but never called. Duke was highly favored in that game and KY had them on the ropes with only 2 seconds (I think) on the clock.

I've lived in Indiana for close to 40 years now and can pull for IN teams (as long as UK isn't in the game) but I was raised watching and listening to the UK games and besides that, I was born in Lexington, KY so I am a Big Blue Fan through & through.

Good for you, Karen! Where in Indiana? I was raised in Georgetown, then did my first year of college at UofK - college of engineering. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I also played in the band - and traveled to all the games and with the associated partying and such didn't leave me much time for classes. My Dad came down on me pretty hard, so I transferred to Georgetown College, majored in Math and got a trumpet scholarship. After graduating and time in the Navy went back to UofK and got my Civil Engineering Degree. Kentucky, like Indiana, has such an incredible high school tourney each year with counties and regions then leading to the final 16 in Lexington. So from early on - all roads lead to UofK basketball for young folk in KY.

Watching Billy Ball was so very painful and I still can't imagine why he was hired but I guess those few years were worth it since we now have Coach Cal.  I just wish that One & Done option would disappear!  IMO, if a kid is good enough to go to the NBA after his freshman year, then he's good enough to go out of high school.  Let the NBA teams carry him and grow him that year into the player they want rather than take up a scholarship and a year of a coach's time just so the kid can say adios and go off to make millions.  If a kid accepts a scholarship, it should be with a commitment of a minimum of 2 (3 is better) years.

That's going to be an even tougher call if we win the whole thing, Karen - or even if we lose in the final four. To have a record 5 players in the draft and then reload with these three freshmen and get to the final 4 is an amazing thing. Brandon and Terrance will most likely go - and I figure Doron will stay one more year (I sure hope so). OTOH, Jones really "should" stay one more year. If one or two stay, coupled with Liggins and Miller and "the number one ranked recruiting class" of 4 new freshman coming in -- KY will most likely be the pre season number one ranked team next fall.

HERE is a video with clips of the 4 new KY freshman next fall. Gilchrist (#4), Teaques (#12/red shirt), Davis (#41), & Wiltzer (#14). Michael Gilchrist is the #1 nationally ranked recruit. Wiltzer is from Canada and even tho he is 6-10' (some say 11" won the 3 point shooting contest at a recent top recruiting camp. Look at the video -- then image those 4 plus Lamb, Liggins, and Miller. 

It takes me several weeks to get over Basketball Withdrawal once the season ends.  I can only hope the weather cooperates and we can start camping!  That will help with the symptoms.

I'm the same way. I like to then watch the NBA draft -- but also have been a Sacramento Kings fan since coming west -- so I get to watch DeMarcus Cousins battle with the NBA bigs. He's still an emotional kid, but is growing and well thought of in Sacramento. The Kings lose a lot - but they are fun to watch.

 

[KarenS144]

Bob,

Isn't it FUN to actually look forward to the next year rather than just wish the current year was over?  ;D

I live near Paoli and taught in Louisville schools until I retired a few years ago.  I grew up in Fern Creek, a suburb of Louisville but even though I was born in Lexington, I'm a hillbilly from eastern KY.  My dad was a basketball coach in a tiny mountain town when he started his teaching career but coached in Louisville too once we made the move to the big city.

I went to a lot of the Sweet Sixteen games when they were played in Louisville, many many years ago.  Great memories!  I went to a lot of UK games at Memorial Coliseum when I was at UK and a few at Rupp since. 

I don't think any of the UK current players are ready for the NBA but like you, figure we'll lose Jones & Knight.  I read somewhere that Lamb said he was coming back but have heard nothing about that decision on the news so don't know how true it is.

DeMarcus is a work in progress.  I'm not sure how many coaches would have put up with his crap.  Gotta hand it to Coach Cal to have the patience to handle him.  I'm not a pro basketball fan so haven't watched any of the former Cats play this year but we get updates via the TV sports reports. 

I'm so looking forward to the game Saturday! 

GO BIG BLUE!!

 

[boatbuilder]

Looks like the UCONN women put on a clinic for Duke. 

 

[Bob Buchanan]

UCONN Women beat Duke!!!!!!! Come on UCONN Men! ;D

Anytime Duke gets beat -- that's a good thing. 

However, hope UConn Men are sitting on the sidelines "watching" the NCAA finals.

BTW, Jim, can UConn women beat Stanford? Similar situtation there -- in that the KY men were beaten by UConn in the Maui Invitational back in November, whereas didn't Stanford hand UConn their only lose of the year?

 

[Jim Dick]

Charlie,

They are quite good at that!

 

[Bob Buchanan]

Congratulations to UCONN!!

They beat UK by a point. Our 3 freshmen seemed to be a bit nervous or whatever, but could not find the bucket in the first half, shooting something like 20% and wound up 10 points down. They came out stronger in the second half shooting around 40%and outscored UCONN, but fell short by a point. The lead changed hands a lot in 2nd half and KY came back and gave themselves a chance to win. Kentucky is very proud of the wildcats this year as they weren't expected to even get to the final four. So thoughts now move on to next year. Who will go on to the NBA and who will stay.

Butler won the first game over VCU and looked strong, so the match up with UCONN in the final game on Monday should be a good one.

 

[geodrake]

GO BUTLER!

 

[Jim Dick]

Bob,

Sorry about UK but happy about UCONN. Now they have a chance of bringing home both titles again!